“I don’t really know,” I answeredhonestly.
Jesse put his hand on my shoulder. “It’s going to take time for all of us,brother.”
“Amen to that,” Iresponded.
We all lifted shots intheair.
“To the best damn president this club has ever seen,” Redslurred.
“Hey, how’s your old man taking it? I noticed earlier that he’s still wearing his vice pres patch.” Jesse looked over to where my dad was sitting with Collin at the bar, chatting withRaine.
“I’m not really sure, but I’m trying to just let the dust settle a bit more before I start prying any of this shitwideopen.”
“Hey Holt,” Red said, way louder thannecessary.
“How’s it going?” my dad asked as he approached, making small talk with Jesse and Red for a couple of minutes before turning to me. “Son, a minute?” He motioned for the backoffice.
“Sure. Catch you guys later.” Jesse and Red both saluted me as I followedhimback.
“Everything okay Pop?” I asked as we stepped into the small space. He shut the doorbehindus.
“Yeah, of course, everything is perfectly fine. I just need to do something really quick before the questions about it keep popping up.” He opened the top drawer of Abel’s desk and pulled out a sewing kit, a bottle of whiskey, and two packages of blue raspberryFunDip.
“Questions?Aboutwhat?”
He completely ignored my inquiry and for the first time, I understood how annoying it was to Raine when I did that shit to her. I picked up Abel’s favorite candy. I always used to think that it was ridiculous that a grown ass man loved the blue powder sugar rush as much as my father-in-law did. But, in that moment, I couldn’t imagine him any other way than with his boots up on that very desk and bright blue lips. I couldn’t believe that I would never see that again, make fun of him one more time, or get my ass handed to me for something stupid. Right then I truly started to miss AbelHellock.
“Give me your cut,” hebarked.
I did as he asked; no sense in questioning it if I wasn’t going to get a straight answer from the guy. My old man dug a patch out of the front pocket of his jeans and started to stitch it onto myleather.
He handed me the bottle. “Drink.” I took a long swig as he finished up hisproject.
“Here.” He held it out to me. “This is the way Abel would havewantedit.”
I took it from him and stared down at the patch he had just given me. It wasn’t the one I had been expecting. I had figured I would move up into my father’s VP spot—if he didn’t pick Red or Jesse over me—and I secretly was hoping he would pick anyone else but me. I didn’t feel like I could handle the pressure and responsibility, but there I was staring down at a patch on my fucking cut that saidpresident.
“But, Dad…” I tried to hand it backtohim.
He cut me off and refused to take the leather out of my hand. “I know what was supposed to happen, but I’m getting old and this chapter needs someone like you to get them through this. I’m a better VP anyway. I’ll be sitting right there to your left as you handle that gavel. I will teach you every damn thing I know. Abel taught me, and now it is your turn tolearn.”
“What aboutCollin?”
Holt laughed before taking a long swig from the bottle. “He’ll have his time in the sun, don’t you worry. He’s still a little rough around the edges, but he’s growing up to be just like hisoldman.”
“What about JesseorRed?”
My father just shook his head. “It has to be you. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but in time you will understand why this is the right decision for allofus.”
We both took seats, ripping open our packages of candy. “To Abel,” I said while dipping the white stick into the bluepowder.
Raine popped her head into the office. “There you two are.” She leaned back on her heels, calling to someone. “Found them hiding in Dad’soffice.”
Raine, Crickett, and Collin alljoinedus.
“This ain’t Dad’s office anymore,” Collin remarked. “I believe this little cave of solitude belongs to the president.” He pointed at my chest and Crickettgasped.
“You finally told him.” She slapped my dad on the arm. “And you didn’t give me a little warningfirst?”
